Apparel belt and buckle therefor

ABSTRACT

A belt having a buckle which may be removed readily and used as a knife. The blade of the knife is curved to conform to the shape of the body so that the belt is comfortable to wear. A pocket is formed in the belt to receive the knife blade to thereby prevent injury to the wearer.

United States Patent [191 Forgett, Jr.

[451 July 16,1974

[ APPAREL BELT AND BUCKLE THEREFOR [75] Inventor: Valmore J. Forgett, Jr., Woodcliff Lake, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Adventure Products Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

[22] Filed: Sept. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 287,064

[52] US. Cl. 2/321, 24/77R, 224/5 R [51] Int. Cl. A4lf 9/00 [58] Field of Search 224/1 R, 1 A, l B, 2 D,

224/26 E, 20, 5 R; 24/163 KO, 77 R, 77 S, 208 R, 186,201 R, 3 F; 7/1 R, l B, 1 C, 1 A, 14.25, 14.6; 2/300, 311, 315, 321, 322, 325, 336; 30/143, 151, 296 R, 299, 298; D 2/405;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,186 2/1891 Leck 2/322 1,682,450 8/1928 Wanninger et a1. 2/321 X 2,423,668 7/1947 Wiethorn 2/322 2,444,028 6/1948 Bliss et al 2/322 2,807,085 9/1957 Combs 7/l4.25 X 2,827,214 3/1958 Lutz 24/163 KO 2,898,602 8/1959 Moss 2/325 X 3,175,233 3/1965 Caravella 2/322 X 3,272,410 9/1966 Reisman 24/163 K0 3,579,641 5/1971 Larson 2/325 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin 571 ABSTRACT A belt having a buckle which may be removed readily and used as a knife. The blade of the knife is curved to conform to the shape of the body so that the belt is comfortable to wear. A pocket is formed in the belt to receive the knife blade to thereby prevent injury to the wearer.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 APPARELBELT AND BUCKLE THEREFOR The invention relates to belts for wearing apparel and in particular to those belts which utilize a removable buckle. More particularly, the invention is directed toward a belt buckle which may be utilized as a defensive weapon but wherein the defensive weapon is completely concealed fromthe sight of outsiders.

Police and other officers frequently require a concealed weapon such as a knife when engaging in surveillance and other activities. Both uniformed and ununiformed personnel frequently require a knife or similar weapon which may be readily hidden from view and still readily available for use.

Many prior art devices use a belt for carrying various weapons but they are often of complex design and are uncomfortable to wear or do not lend themselves to simple undetected use.

Broadly, the invention comprises a belt and a removable buckle. The belt is provided with a pouch at one end to receive an extending rigid member of steel or similar material, preferably in the conformation of a knife or dagger. This member is curved to conform to the body of the wearer. A rigid loop is affixed to the extending rigid member to receive the free end of the belt. i

The buckle is provided, in its preferred form with an upstanding pin mounted between the loop and the extending member for engaging an opening in the belt, preferably a grommet-lined circular hole. The free end of the belt is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, one of which engages the pin when the free end is run through the loop.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a belt and removable buckle wherein the buckle has is removed from the belt;

It isa further object of the invention to provide such a" buckle'and belt wherein theutilization means are such a buckle and belt wherein the utilization means is a knife or dagger.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a buckle and belt wherein the utilization means is curved to conform to the body of the wearer.

These and other objects, advantages, features and uses will be apparent during the course of the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a belt and buckle of the invention in its body encircling configuration as they would appear when worn;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevational view of the buckle and belt viewed from inside the belt of FIG. 1 in the direction of arrow 2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the buckle disengaged from the belt, viewed from the rear of the belt;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the buckle of the invention viewed from the front thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 66 of FIG. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout the same and wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is illustrated a preferred utilization means which may be. used when the buckle embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a combination belt and buckle of the invention generally. Combination belt and buckle 10 comprises a band 12 of flexible material forming the belt and buckle 14 of rigid material such as steel. Band 12 has a buckle end 16 and a free end 18.

A strip 20 (FIG. 2) of flexible material similar to that of band 12 is affixed to the inner surface of band 12 to form a pouch 21. The purpose of the pouch 21 will become apparent as this description proceeds. A plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 22 is provided adjacentfree end 18 to permit a snug fit of the belt on persons of different girth. A free running loop 24 surrounds band 12 and is used to hold free end 18 against the band 12.

Buckle 14 is preferably formed of one piece and comprises an extending rigid element 26 which is confined in pouch 21 and a closed loop of rigid material 28. Element 26 is curved to conform to the wearers body so as to increase the comfort of the wearer of the belt. Element 26 serves as utilization means when the buckle is separated from the belt. Element 26 is illustrated in one of its preferred forms, namely, a daggertype knife. Buckle 14 is held in position on the buckle end 16 of band 12 by means of an upstanding pin 30 which is engaged in opening 32. Opening 32 is preferably fitted with a grommet 33 to prevent undue wear at the opening.

Pin 30 is preferably canted toward element 26 to achieve a locking action and to prevent the buckle from separating from the band during wearing. The construction of the pin and opening allows the wearer to easily separate the belt and the buckle. I

In use, the buckle 14 is affixed to band 12 and the belt is put around the waist of the wearer with the inner surface against the body of the wearer and the outer surface facing outwardly. The belt is adjusted and the appropriate opening 22 is engaged on pin 30. Then loop 24 is slid over end 18 'of band 12.

When the wearer wishes to use element 26, he loos I ens the belt and disengages pin 30 {from opening 32.

Now, buckle 14 may be slid out of pouch 21. The closed loop 28 now serves as a handle and extending element 26 maybe utilized for its intended purpose.

While a particular embodiment of the invention'has been shown and described, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

l. A belt and buckle for wearing apparel comprising:

a band having an inner surface and an outer surface and a first end and a second end adapted to encircle the wearers waist so that the inner surface is adjacent the body of the wearer;

a stripaffixed to the inner surface adjacent the first end of the band such that there is an opening between the strip and the band facing the said first end of the band to form a pouch;

the band having an opening therein adjacent the first end between the end of the strip and the end of the band;

the band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings adjacent the second end of the band;

a removable buckle comprising:

an extending rigid element curved to conform to the body of the wearer and insertable in the pouch so as to be confined therein; a closed loop of rigid material affixed to the extending rigid element; and engaging means located between the closed loop and the extending element for engaging the opening adjacent the first end of the band such that the buckle is held in position on the said first end; one of the plurality of longitudinally spaced openings engaging the engaging means when the band surrounds the body of the wearer whereby the belt is securely fastened thereabout. 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the engaging means comprises an upstanding pin between the extending rigid element and the closed loop with its free end canted toward the extending rigid element. 3. The invention of claim 2 including a grommet set in the opening adjacent the said first end of the band.

4. The invention of claim 1 including a grommet set in the opening adjacent the said first end of the band.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the extending 5 rigid element is a knife.

body of the wearer;

a closed loop of rigid material affixed to the extending rigid element; and

an upstanding pin located between the extending rigid element and the closed loop of rigid material.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the extending rigid element is a knife. 

1. A belt and buckle for wearing apparel comprising: a band having an inner surface and an outer surface and a first end and a second end adapted to encircle the wearer''s waist so that the inner surface is adjacent the body of the wearer; a strip affixed to the inner surface adjacent the first end of the band such that there is an opening between the strip and the band facing the said first end of the band to form a pouch; the band having an opening therein adjacent the first end between the end of the strip and the end of the band; the band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings adjacent the second end of the band; a removable buckle comprising: an extending rigid element curved to conform to the body of the wearer and insertable in the pouch so as to be confined therein; a closed loop of rigid material affixed to the extending rigid element; and engaging means located between the closed loop and the extending element for engaging the opening adjacent the first end of the band such that the buckle is held in position on the said first end; one of the plurality of longitudinally spaced openings engaging the engaging means when the band surrounds the body of the wearer whereby the belt is securely fastened thereabout.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein: the engaging means comprises an upstanding pin between the extending rigid element and the closed loop with its free end canted toward the extending rigid element.
 3. The invention of claim 2 including a grommet set in the opening adjacent the said first end of the band.
 4. The invention of claim 1 including a grommet set in the opening adjacent the said first end of the band.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the extending rigid element is a knife.
 6. The invention of claim 3 wherein the extending rigid element is a knife.
 7. The invention of claim 2 wherein the extending rigid element is a knife.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the extending rigid element is a knife.
 9. A removable buckle for a belt for wearing apparel comprising: an extending rigid element curved to conform to the body of the wearer; a closed loop of rigid material affixed to the extending rigid element; and an upstanding pin located between the extending rigid element and the closed loop of rigid material.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the extending rigid element is a knife. 